Shoe



N. SWARTZ Nov. 14, 1939.

SHOE

Fi1ed Nov. 25, 1938 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNiTED 1 Clam.

This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes, particularly womens shoes, such as pumps, slippers and the like.

In the manufacture of womens shoes of the 5 aforesaid type considerable dificulty has been encountered in providing the requisite degree of flexibility at the instep portion to insure Wearing comfort, Without sacrificing the snug-fit and neat appearance desired in shoes of this type. Al though numerous attempts have been made to overconie this difiiculty, such attempts usually involve the employment of expansible inserts, tongues and the like elements which not only tend to produce a bulky appearance, but also to increase the cost of manufacture.

The principal objects of the present invention are to overcome the aforementioned diffi'culty and to provide an improved shoe and a simple and efficient method of making the same, where- 20 by the desired degree of fiexibility at the instep portion may be obtained without sacrificing appearance or increasing the cost of manufacture.

Further objects Will be apparent from a con,- sideration of the following description and accom- 25 panying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan vieW of an assembled upper made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 22 of Fig. 1

30 Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33 01? Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a shoe embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 35 of Fig. 4.

In accordance With what is now considered to be the preierred p1ocedure, a out-out shoe upper,-

including the upper, lining and a length of elastic piping may be assembled in the usual manner,

40 and the top marginal portion or edge of the upper is first secured to the elastic piping by a line of stitching which extends from the rear of one of the quarter portions forwardly about the throat or instep, and thence to the rear end of 45 the other quarter portion. Subsequently, a second line of stitching is applied Which extends through the upper, elastic piping and the lining, this second line of stitching being either superposed on or applied in closelyspaced relation to 50 the first line of stitching at the rear portion of the upper and being spaced appreciably from the first line of stitching at the throat portion of the upper. The assembled upper may thon be lasted in the usual manner, and either before or after 55 lasting the edge of the lining extending upwa1dly beyond the second line of stitching may be trimmed down so as to be substantially concealed when the shoe is worn.

I have found that in a shoe constructed as above set forth, the spaced lines of stitching at the instep portion define a zone of increased flexibility Which not only permits the instep portion to conform snugly with the contour of the foot, but also allows a certain amount of give or pliability Which insures Wearing comfort.

Referring to the drawing, the nunieral l designates an upper includjng an outer member 2 which may be of patent leather or any other suitable material, a lining 3, and an elastic piping i having a beaded upper edge and a body portion interposed between the top edges of the upper and lining. The piping i is preferably pinked or notched at the throat portion of the upper so as to avoid bulging, and it may then be secured to the upper 2 by a line of stitching 5 which extends entirely about the marginal portions of the upper. The lining 3 is secured to the upper 2 and piping i by a second line of stitching 6 which is in closely spaced relation to the first line of stitching 5 at the rear portion of the upper, but is spaced appreciably, that is, of the order of one-eighth of an inch or more, from the first line of stitching at the throat portion of the upper, thereby to define a zone 8 of increased fiexibility and extensibility, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

Eithe'r before or after lasting the assembled parts of the upper any excess lining extending outwardly beyond the stitching 0 may be skived or trimmed oii, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The lasting operations may be performed in the usual manner and the shoe completed in accordance With conventional shoemakiflg practices.

In a shoe made in accordance With the present invention, the rear portions of the top edges of 40 the upper are relatively firm and are directed slightly inwardly so as to insure a snug fit. The

iront or instep portions of the shoe possess an not only insures wearing comf0rt but also a snug, attractive fit.

Furthermore, it W111 be noted that in a shoe made in accordance with the present invention, the desired flexibility at the instep portion is attained without the necessity of using expansible inserts and the like expedients which appreciably increase the cost of manufacture, and by avoiding the use of expansible inserts and the like, the attractive appearance of pumps and similar types of shoes is not in any way sacrificed or impaired.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, and that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

A shoe of the class described, including an upper, a lining and an elastic piping interposed between the upper and. lining, the piping having a beaded edge which projeots outwardly beyond the upper edges of the upper and lining, the upper and piping being secured together by a line of stitching extending around the top marginal portions of the upper, the lining being secured to the upper and piping by a second line of stitching disposed in closely spaced relation to the first line of stitching at the rear portion of the upper, but spaced at least approximately inch from said first line of stitching at the throat portion of the upper, the portion of the lining at and adjacent to the throat of the upper lying between the first and second lines of stitching being trimmed off, thereby defining a zone of increased fiexibility and extensibility at and adjacent to the throat portion.

NATHAN SWARTZ. 

